DATE=8/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237918
TITLE=ALGERIA BOMB (S & L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A POWERFUL BOMB EXPLOSION IN ALGERIA HAS KILLED 10 PEOPLE
AND INJURED 15. RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS THE BLAST COMES
AS THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAID IT WILL OPEN OFFICES TO HELP
FAMILIES FIND RELATIVES WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED DURING TAHE
COUNTRY'S SIX-YEAR CIVIL WAR.
TEXT: THE OFFICIAL ALGERIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED THAT A
HOME-MADE BOMB EXPLODED EARLY MONDAY IN A MARKET NEAR THE
ALGERIAN CAPITAL, ALGIERS.
NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.
THE BOMB EXPLODED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED BAB AL OUED --
CONSIDERED A STRONGHOLD OF ISLAMIC MILITANTS WHOM AUTHORITIES
BLAME FOR ALGERIA'S VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, ISLAMIC REBELS AND SOME
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF RESORTING TO
TERRORISM.
ON MONDAY, THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT WILL OPEN 48 OFFICES AROUND THE
COUNTRY TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS BY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS THAT THE
ARMY WAS INVOLVED IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THOUSANDS OF ALGERIANS
DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS.
OFFICIALS ARE INVITING RELATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEARED TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH PICTURES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES
TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATIONS.
/// OPT FOR SHORT ///
ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE BEEN BATTLING WITH ISLAMIC REBELS
SINCE 1992. IN THAT YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT CANCELED AN ELECTION
THAT THE ISLAMISTS WERE SET TO WIN.
IN THE CIVIL WAR THE FOLLOWED, WESTERN OBSERVERS ESTIMATE THAT AS
MANY AS 65-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/SB/JWH
31-Aug-98 10:32 AM EDT (1432 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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